Powers/Abilities: Klaatu is a member of the
extra-terrestrial race called the Herm, and as such it is immensely powerful,
and has been described as power incarnate. It can drain power off of large
areas, such as New York, and add to its own power. It can disperse its atoms
to feed on a larger area and then bring them back together. It is huge, about
as tall as a skyscraper, and is unable to be harmed by physical force, and
the Hulk's mightiest blows did absolutely nothing. It is made up of energies
and needs to consume them to survive. It can draw power from any electro
magnetic energy source. It could fly through space unaided. It is however,
susceptible to certain technology, which can injure, and even destroy it,
such as special energy harpoons wielded by Xeron the Star-Slayer, and special
energy blasts from the Andromeda Starship1. It also cannot live for too long
in an environment that is rich with oxygen.

History: Nothing is known of Klaatu before his first
appearance. For unknown reasons, at an unrevealed time long ago in the past,
Klaatu became the prey of the Andromeda Starship.

(Incredible Hulk II#137) (fb)- Long ago, a
youth who was an oarsman on the Andromeda Starship faced Klaatu alone for
unknown reasons. Klaatu destroyed the youth's craft, but the youth was rescued.
However, half of the youth's body was burned badly and replaced with machinery.
The youth went on to hunt Klaatu for the rest of his life, as Captain Cybor
of the Andromeda Starship.

(Incredible Hulk II#136)- There was a power shortage
in mid-Manhattan, strongest at the Empire State Building. Hulk jumped to
the top since he sensed something troubling there. A ship, the Andromeda
Starship, with a crewman named Xeron the Star-Slayer wielding a harpoon,
showed up and flew toward the Empire State Building. Then, from within the
building, Klaatu, emerged. When he emerged, the power went out all over New
York. As Hulk looked on, he was very confused, but dove to attack Klaatu
anyway. Because of the Hulk's interference, a shot of energy fired by Xeron
the Star Slayer at Klaatu missed. The Hulk kept pounding and pounding on
Klaatu, but Klaatu didn't even notice. Eventually Klaatu just swatted the
Hulk away with a flick of its fingers. Klaatu then faded away, saying that
it would disperse its atoms to feed on the electricity all over the city.
Xeron was angered that Klaatu got away, and he knocked out Hulk with his
energy harpoons.

(Incredible Hulk II#137)- Klaatu was found by the Andromeda
Starship and its crew. The ship almost immediately engaged Klaatu in battle.
Xeron and Cybor blasted Klaatu with their beams, but Klaatu destroyed Cybor's
ship. Klaatu was mortally wounded in the attack however, and as Cybor landed
on its back, Klaatu began to drift into the sun. Xeron tried to save the
rest of the ship, while Cybor and Klaatu plunged into the sun, apparently
both dying...

(Incredible Hulk II#306) (fb)- Klaatu did not die,
but the energy of our sun actually revitalized him (seeing as how he absorbs
energy and all). The Andromeda Starship latched onto Klaatu and Klaatu pulled
them to safety. On the way, the Andromeda Starship picked up Cybor as
well.

(Incredible Hulk II#306)- Klaatu appeared in the
Crossroads (a dimension of sorts that is a link to many worlds and that the
Hulk was imprisoned in at the time). Hulk spotted him, and though he did
not remember him, decided to attack anyway, mostly from territorial instinct.
Klaatu casually swatted the Hulk away. Hulk then ripped a signpost out of
the ground and hurled it at Klaatu. Though it did not hurt Klaatu, it did
reveal to Klaatu where it was. Klaatu then used his power to drain some energy
from several worlds attacked to the Crossroads. Klaatu then leaves right
before the Andromeda Starship arrives. The starship then captured the
Hulk, and proceeded to track Klaatu into "Ocean World."

(Incredible Hulk II#307)- Klaatu was found and attacked
by the Andromeda Starship. The ship successfully hit Klaatu with their energy
harpoons, but were forced to pull back and renew the attack later when the
Hulk woke up and started rampaging.

Klaatu was again found by the Andromeda Starship, and again,
the starship latched several harpoons onto Klaatu. Klaatu drags the starship
through several worlds until ending up on a cold barren desert one. Klaatu
was severely weakened, and dying. The ship flew near to finish Klaatu off,
but before it could, Klaatu hit the ship with its hand, and the ship crashed,
with the entire crew dying as a result. The Hulk felt sorry for Klaatu, so
it removed the harpoons from Klaatu's back. Klaatu was thankful to Hulk,
and thanked him by replenishing his strength (which was also weakened by
harpoons) by giving him some of its energy. Hulk than teleports back to the
Crossroads.

Comments: Created by Roy Thomas and Herb
Trimpe

Frankly, I love Klaatu, and really wish we saw him more. I
heard someone (I forget who) say that Klaatu was like a cosmic Moby Dick.
I think that is a very good way to describe it.

Thanks to Jake, from Leader's Lair for the image and the info
concerning the flashback in Hulk #106

Klaatu is almost certainly named after the humanoid alien
Klaatu in film "The Day the Earth Stood Still". The name is probably most
memorable as being the first part of the deactivation phrase "Klaatu Barada
Nikto", which stopped the robot Gort from destroying the world. The film
had such a seminal affect on later science fiction writers that those words
have turned up in a number of places - notably Klaatu, Barada and Nikto were
the names of three of the guards on Jabba the Hutt's skiff in The Return
of the Jedi, and "Klaatu Varata Niktu" was the magical phrase that would
render the evil Necronomicon harmless in the Sam (Spider-Man director) Raimi
movie "Army of Darkness" - Loki.